A woman seated on a balcony outside a motel room in New Zealand witnesses suspicious activity, the apparent abduction of one or more people by a group of men dressed all in black.

The kidnapped woman is Maddy Gamble who, with her husband Jack, were the protagonists of the author's first novel Ebola Island. After that adventure, Maddy and Jack, now famous and wealthy, have settled in Nelson, New Zealand, where they are raising their two young children. Though there is no need for them to work, Maddy has been tutoring a group of Chinese men in English.

When Maddy doesn't come home when expected, Jack reports her missing. The police learn Li Wei, one of Maddy's students, is also missing from the motel where the abduction took place. Maddy's expensive shoes are found in his room leading to suspicion they may have been having an affair and run away together, a conclusion Jack is unwilling to accept.

The woman who witnessed the abduction comes forward and provides details that make it clear a crime has been committed. Jack discovers the city's surveillance cameras were manufactured in China and recalls Maddy telling him she thought the cameras were tracking her movements. Police confirm Jack's theory about the cameras and, after conferring with Sara, a counter terrorism consultant, point to the likelihood Maddy and her student have been abducted by the Chinese.

The search now goes into high-drive, leading first to another New Zealand city where the kidnappers and their prisoners embark aboard a ship bound for China. Can they be stopped before reaching their destination? There's lots of nail-biting tension in the following chase and effort to rescue Maddy.

In reality, a private citizen like Jack would never be allowed to join the police and special agents on a chase like this. But, this is fiction and we must suspend our disbelief since he's vital to the story and must be allowed to participate.

I don't want to give away further details. Aside from a few minor issues, I enjoyed the tale and recommend it for those who like a thriller with suspense and lots of twists and turns.

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